How to Get Rid of Limescale

Most of us have a tough time with the scum in our showers or on our taps, but limescale can create a lot more issues than just visible residue. What is limescale, and how do we get rid of it – or even prevent it in the first place?

What is Limescale?

Limescale is a chalky deposit that is mainly made up of calcium carbonate. If you live in a hard water area, it basically means that the water in your home contains high levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. These build up on lots of surfaces and can create, scum, fur or residue extremely quickly. You can see limescale in lots of places such as your kettle, taps and shower screen, but it also can lurk in lots of places you can’t see. Left untreated it in can build up in pipes and on elements within your washing machine, dishwasher and even your boiler. This residue can massively affect the efficiency of your appliances and eventually cause them to break down, costing you time and money. Hard water is estimated to be responsible for around 70% of equipment failure, but only 6% of people who live in an affected area have a water softener device to help prevent the mineral deposit build-up.

How do I get rid of Limescale?

If you’ve ever tried to scrub limescale deposits, you’ll know it can be very hard to remove. While baking soda and a lot of elbow grease can help shift stubborn limescale on visible surfaces, such as faucets and toilet bowls, ultimately this is a lot of hard work. There are some chemicals on the market which will remove limescale, but it can be difficult work and still leave a residue. Descaling also requires specialist cleaning products and limescale removers. You can use a descaler if you have build up in your kettle or coffee maker, but if it's in your central heating system or water pipes then limescale removal can be more difficult. Ultimately, the best way to stop the build-up of limescale in your home is by preventing it from entering the system at all. Luckily, we’ve got some great products to help with this. The HomeScale Protect effectively prevents corrosion and limescale creation in your water system. It uses specialist technology that changes the structure of the molecules in your water, essentially neutralising the deposits within it. It’s extremely easy to install and lasts for years. Also, it doesn’t add anything to your water so is completely safe to ingest and wash your clothes in. Homescale Protect has an efficiency of over 76% in reducing the creation of limescale on pipework, valves, taps, showerheads and coils within your heating system. That is estimated to save you up to £200 a year in efficiency that could otherwise be lost, not to mention the possible cost of repair or replacement. In practical terms, that could increase the lifespan of your washing machine by another couple of years and hundreds of washes. The WashBall is an easy way of maintaining a healthy washing machine and water system. It can be used not only in with your clothes, but also in your dishwasher and toilet cistern to prevent limescale deposits from building up in your appliances and beyond. The WashBall doesn’t change the composition of the water you’re using, but it modifies it so the detergent dissolves much better. This results in it removing dirt and odours in a much more efficient manner. It contains similar technology to the Homescale Protect and includes an electrode system of conductive materials and together form a galvanic system that removes the hardness of the water. Therefore, the structure of the minerals changes due to the washing process, leaving clothes cleaner and softer. Another great feature of the WashBall is that the service life is a maximum of 10,000 cycles, which is years and years of use. The HomeScale Protect and WashBall are an easy and efficient way of protecting your home from limescale build up for years to come, so take a look at the products today.